South Carolina women’s basketball forward Ashlyn Watkins will take a year off from the sport, sitting out the 2025-26 season to focus on her personal well-being. The 6-foot-3 junior, who has one year of eligibility remaining, announced her intention to return to the team for the 2026-27 season.
In a statement released on social media, Watkins explained her decision followed a “roller coaster” year. “I’m going to take some time off to focus on myself, my community, my faith, and my family, so that I can grow as an individual and attempt to master this journey of life,” she wrote. “I’ll be cheering on my team and working hard to come back even stronger.”
Head coach Dawn Staley expressed the program’s full support. “We will support Ashlyn as she works through getting her body and mind stronger; and we will be here when she is ready to return,” Staley said. “Everyone in our program is valued as the whole of who they are, not just as a player.”
Watkins’ decision comes after a challenging period. On January 5, she tore her ACL against Mississippi State, an injury that ended her season. The hiatus also follows legal troubles from the previous year. Last August, Watkins was arrested on charges of first-degree assault and battery and kidnapping and was suspended from team activities. The charges were later dropped after she completed a pre-trial intervention program, and she returned to the team in November.
In her shortened junior season, Watkins played in 14 games, averaging 7.2 points and 6.1 rebounds. Her sophomore campaign in 2023-24 showcased her potential, as she averaged 9.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks, highlighted by a career-high 20-rebound performance against NC State in the Final Four.
While South Carolina reached the national championship game without her, Watkins’ presence was missed, especially on the boards. For the upcoming season, Coach Staley has considerable frontcourt depth with players like Chloe Kitts, Joyce Edwards, Madina Okot, Adhel Tac, and Maryam Dauda.
Source link
